Location: Cambridge (Office Based)

Hours of work: 40 hours per week

Length: Full-time / Permanent

Job Reference: FPP/TE1

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000

Application closing date: Wednesday 8th January 2025

Our purpose is simple: To improve every positioning solution

We develop groundbreaking technology that boosts the accuracy, reliability and security of radio receivers. Chipset manufacturers and Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) partner with us to enhance the capability of their devices, helping to improve the lives of billions of people who rely on location technologies.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for a Test Engineer who is keen to join a team of expert engineers, working together collaboratively to create groundbreaking technologies that transform the capability of all GNSS devices.

To develop our product we need to capture and process a large amount of test data. The collection process typically involves setting up a road vehicle with a complex set of test equipment, and driving it around various carefully chosen locations (both in the UK and abroad). Data is also collected from static antennas, and created via simulation. The data processing is done under lab conditions on in-house hardware.

This role has two primary aspects: planning and running data collection trials as needed, and processing data (from all sources) on to obtain outputs that can be analysed and then passed to the engineering team. There is considerable scope to build expertise in GNSS and Sensor Fusion in the analysis of the results.

The successful candidate must be local to Cambridge, possess a UK drivers licence and be available to work in our Cambridge office 5-days per week. The role may require ad-hoc travel testing/trialling our devices around the UK and occasionally globally.

This role requires full time attendance in our Cambridge office working in our on-site laboratory. Please consider this when applying.

Key Responsibilities (testing)

• Work with the engineering teams to design tests
  
• Run experimental software to gather test data
  
• Execute tests on in-house hardware units
  
• Triage and summarise the test results, sharing with our engineering teams
  
• Assist on development and maintenance of test tools, scripts and hardware setup

Key Responsibilities (trials)

• Work with the engineering teams to discuss their requirements and design the trial
• Plan the execution of the trial working to target deadline
• Produce detailed specifications of the trial setup, equipment used and its configuration
• Set up the test vehicle with the test equipment in accordance with the specification
• Configure all test equipment and ensure its correct operation
• Execute the data collection trial
• Monitor the equipment during the trial to ensure its continued operation
• Accurately organise, transfer, store, label and document trials data
• Validate the data obtained using in-house and third party software
• Help train colleagues on how to conduct trials
• Assist on development and maintenance of test tools, scripts and hardware setup

Other Responsibilities 

• Work on hardware and software/firmware to fix problems
• Construction and assembly of prototype boards used for testing
• Practical experience in maintaining, fault-finding, diagnostic testing and repairing electronic test equipment
• Arrange the ordering of equipment, parts and lab supplies as/when necessary

Your Experience

Essential:

• Ability to produce and work with detailed technical specifications.
• Familiarity with hardware testing and creating experimental hardware setups
• Experience running experimental tests and data capture tests
• Experience flashing and upgrading bare-metal hardware units
• Knowledge of standard hardware test equipment, especially radio and RF
• Understanding of file transfer and networking protocols
• Ability to create and maintain supporting test scripts and software
• BSc/MSc in a numerate subject (e.g. Electronics, Engineering, Computer Science, also Maths, Physics) or equivalent experience in relevant fields.
• UK driving licence and full passport with willingness to travel as required
• Familiarity with Windows, Linux, MacOS, and standard office software tools
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies
• A proactive approach to learn about our technical domain
• Flexible, pragmatic approach to problem solving

Desirable:

• Knowledge of GNSS, Inertial Navigation, RF, Software Defined Radio
  
• Knowledge of low level hardware units/CPUs including Serial, I2C, SPI, USB
  
• Programming skills in Python, Shell scripts, C/C++/C#
  
• Experience programming and working with open source hardware
  
• Experience working with large data sets
  
• Experience with Labsat, NTLab, Git, GitLab, Jira, NAS, Matlab, Confluence
  

Our Guiding Principle and Values

Our guiding principle, Strive for Excellence, sets the expectation of how we operate.

It helps to shape our work environment, and how we should navigate everything we do from our day to day behaviours to the way we interact across the organisation.

We value high integrity.

We demonstrate this through honesty, transparency and ethical behaviours.

We value high performance.

We demonstrate this through active problem solving, proactively seeking out solutions.

We value high collaboration.

We demonstrate this through empowering our people and teams, creating an environment that encourages inclusivity and respect

Your Development and Perks

Our people are the reason why our business continues to thrive. We lead the way in the industry, we care for our people and we are always looking to support your development. Staff are regularly mentored by our team of experts and all employees are offered, bi-annual appraisals, career development plans, training courses relevant to their field and feedback sessions through 1-2-1 meetings.

Our generous benefits package includes the following: 

• 8% employer-contribution pension scheme
  
• You can choose your way of working- In-hub (3 days+ in office) or Hybrid (1-2 days in office)
  
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
  
• Additional annual leave after 3 years
  
• Enhanced special leave
• Extra annual leave at the end of December
• Company Options Scheme (determined by Executive Team)
• Up to £5000 Recommend a friend scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Private Healthcare - Vitality Health
• Regular social events and in-hub lunch and learns
• In-hub (office) lunches on us
• Paid professional memberships

*Company options are not offered as part of the package. You may be offered them throughout your employment* 

Our purpose is to improve every positioning solution 

At FocalPoint, our purpose is to improve the accuracy, reliability, and security of everyday devices that rely on positioning technology. We believe that GNSS is one of the marvels of the modern world, considering over a trillion dollars of the US economy and over 800 billion euros of the European economy currently depends on this incredible positioning and timing system. 

However, the sensitivity and accuracy of current receivers cannot fulfil the demands of 21st century businesses and users. We develop groundbreaking technology that boosts the accuracy, reliability and security of radio receivers. Chipset manufacturers and Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) partner with us to enhance the capability of their devices, helping to improve the lives of billions of people who rely on location technologies.

We are an equal opportunities employer

We believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that diversity fosters innovation and creativity, and we welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all.